Written Answers Monday 21 March 2011

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with alcohol-related dementia in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: The exact number of people diagnosed with alcohol-related dementia in Scotland is not available centrally.

  National estimates can be given of the number of patients consulting a GP or practice-employed nurse for this condition based on information obtained from a sample of Scottish general practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). Patients registered to PTI practices are representative of Scotland as a whole in terms of their age, gender and deprivation profile. The PTI sample is only representative at national level, so NHS board-level estimates cannot be provided. The last year for which PTI data are currently available is the year ending 31 March 2010.

  The following table shows the estimated number of patients who have consulted a GP or practice-employed nurse in Scotland at least once where a clinical code for alcohol-related dementia was recorded, for each of the financial years ending 31 March 2006 to 2010, based on PTI data.

  These figures are likely to underestimate the true numbers of patients in Scotland with alcohol-related dementia. This is because, for the purposes of this request, "alcohol-related dementia" is defined so as to include specific clinical coding for the following only: alcohol amnestic syndrome; Korsakov’s alcoholic psychosis; Korsakov’s alcoholic psychosis with peripheral neuritis; Wernicke-Korsakov syndrome; alcohol amnestic syndrome NOS; other alcoholic dementia; chronic alcoholic brain syndrome, and mental and behavioural disorders due to use alcohol: amnesic syndrome. Clinicians may in some cases use less specific codes than these ones for patients with alcohol-related dementia, and these cases will therefore not be captured in the estimates shown in the table.

  Estimated Numbers of Patients in Scotland Consulting for Alcohol-Related Dementia at Least Once in the Financial Years (1 April to 31 March) 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Financial Year
Estimated Patients
95% Confidence Intervals1


2005-06
134
(47-221)


2006-07
153
(59-247)


2007-08
201
(63-339)


2008-09
166
(27-306)


2009-10
156
(62-250)



  Note: 1. As the estimates are based on data from a sample of practices, 95% confidence intervals are included to indicate the precision of these estimates. For more information see:

  www.isdscotland.org/isd/3729.html.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what local needs assessments have been carried out regarding alcohol-related brain damage since the publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage .

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has funded research into alcohol-related brain damage in (a) Scotland or (b) different regions of Scotland since the publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage .

Shona Robison: No.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made since May 2007 of the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related brain damage.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has made since May 2007 in relation to the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related brain damage.

Shona Robison: Since May 2007, the Scottish Government has continued work to translate the principles and recommendations of Mind the Gaps (2003) and A Fuller Life (2004) reports into practical advice on action needed to move the joint agenda forward and support joined-up local delivery to improve the awareness, support and service provision for people who have both mental health and substance misuse problems.

  The Closing the Gaps – Making a Difference report, published in December 2007, sets out six recommendations to be implemented by a range of partners including: NHS boards, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) (formerly Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (ADATs)) and local authorities.

  In 2010, the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) Missed Opportunities report set out two recommendations for the Scottish Government in relation to alcohol-related brain damage. We have sought and received the advice of the Scottish Ministerial Advisory Committee on Alcohol Problems (SMACAP) Essential Services Working Group on these recommendations and are currently considering next steps.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence of a change in the ratio of men to women with alcohol-related brain damage.

Shona Robison: Data on numbers of men and women with alcohol related brain damage are not held centrally.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage in ensuring that suitable housing or appropriate residential placements are available to people with alcohol-related brain damage.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39719 on 1 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Care Commission has taken to ensure that appropriate care and personal plans are in place for people in care homes, supported accommodation or hostels with alcohol-related brain damage.

Shona Robison: There is a statutory requirement for registered care services for adults to prepare a personal plan which sets out how the health and welfare needs of the person using the service will be met. This requirement is reflected in the National Care Standards.

  How to ensure that this requirement is met by care services is an operational matter for the Care Commission. The acting chief executive of the commission can be contacted for details at:

  Mr David Wiseman

  Care Commission

  Compass House

  11 Riverside Drive

  DUNDEE

  DD1 4NY

  T: 01382 207100

  E: David.wiseman@carecommission.com.

Antisocial Behaviour

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the antisocial behaviour framework debate in the Parliament on 16 December 2010 ( Official Report , c. 31759), whether it will provide details of how Edinburgh is benefiting from the Community Wellbeing Champions Initiative.

Fergus Ewing: In March 2010 I announced £100,000 in support of the Community Wellbeing Champions Initiative. So far the Initiative has been piloted in five areas across Scotland: Fife; Shetland; North Lanarkshire; South Lanarkshire, and Stirling.

  Evaluation of these pilots is currently taking place, and a full report of the Initiative will be included in the second annual report to Parliament.

Antisocial Behaviour

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been granted in relation to people (a) under 16, (b) 16-17 and (c) over 18 in each year since 2005, broken down by local authority area.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions authorisations for dispersal powers under section 19 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 have been made in each year since 2005, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions authorisations for dispersal powers under section 19 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 have been made where the grounds cited include antisocial behaviour by children or young people in each year since 2005, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: The use of antisocial behaviour measures covering the period October 2004 to March 2008, including dispersal orders, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk . Information beyond that date is not held centrally.

Burial and Cremation

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations govern the number of burials that can be carried out in family graves.

Shona Robison: Through powers vested in them under the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855 (as amended), local authorities may sell the exclusive right of burial in a particular plot, either in perpetuity or for a limited period, and under such restrictions and conditions as they think proper.

  The Act does not contain specific detail on the number of burials which can be carried out in any given plot. This is a matter for local authorities.

Burial and Cremation

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what flexibility exists in determining the number of burials that can be carried out in family graves.

Shona Robison: The majority of burial grounds in Scotland are publicly managed. The legislation applicable to such burial grounds is the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855; that act provides that the general management, regulation and control of burial grounds vests in local authorities. The act does not specify a particular number of burials that can be carried out in a grave. Flexibility on this issue will depend on the circumstances applying in individuals cases, such as the availability of land or existing lair space, and is a matter for the local authority.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the African and Caribbean communities when developing health policy and which representatives of those communities it consults.

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the Chinese community when developing health policy and which representatives of that community it consults.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are committed to providing appropriate and accessible NHS services which meet the needs of all ethnic minority communities.

  The Scottish Government and NHSScotland have a duty to undertake equality impact assessments (EQIA) of all policies and strategies. An important part of that process is to secure views from a wide range of organisations and communities (including ethnic minority communities) that may be directly or indirectly affected by policy developments or proposals.

  Guidance to NHS boards outlining the requirement to EQIA policies, issued in March 2005, is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/equalityanddiversity/IAtoolkit.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the African and Caribbean communities when developing anti-poverty policies and which representatives of those communities it consults.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is fully aware of the need to consider issues concerning equalities groups, and to consult with equalities groups and have consulted with black and minority ethnic (BME) groups when developing anti-poverty strategies.

  Tackling Child Poverty in Scotland: A Discussion Paper was open to public consultation and issued directly to the African and Caribbean Network.

  In addition to this, some more targeted consultation activities took place including working with bodies such as the Poverty Alliance and Young Scot, to elicit the views and experience of, and engage with families with direct experience of living in poverty, through focus groups and structured discussions with equality groups. The consultation processes also included meetings and events engaging key professionals from different sectors, including organisations representing BME groups.

  Taking Forward the Government Economic Strategy: A Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland (the consultation that formed Achieving Our Potential) was also issued to a wide range of BME groups, including BEMIS (Black and Minority Infrastructure in Scotland).

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the African and Caribbean communities when developing justice policy and which representatives of those communities it consults.

Mr Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government remains committed to carrying out Equality Impact Assessments on its programmes, projects and policies prior to implementation. This involves the consultation of and input from a range of community groups, including those from the African and Caribbean communities. Recent consultations involved: Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS); Shakti Women’s Aid; the Scottish Refugee Council; Central Scotland Racial Equality Unit; and Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the African and Caribbean communities when developing skills and employment policies and which representatives of those communities it consults.

Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and improving the levels of economic activity across all groups within society in Scotland. In implementing our refreshed skills strategy the Scottish Government and partners will continue to recognise people’s differing needs, situations and goals and work to remove any barriers which restrict progress. In terms of skills and training provision, Skills Development Scotland’s development of their products and services are informed by an Equality Advisory Group. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities are represented on this group by Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS).

  While employment policy remains reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government continues to work hard to build capacity in the delivery of employability services in Scotland. Under our community planning arrangements, there are now active employability partnerships in all local authority areas in Scotland. In the Glasgow area the Scottish Government has supported Glasgow Works to develop and implement the Glasgow Works Ethnic Minority Policy Group Action Plan. This aims to eliminate racial inequality in the labour market and improve participation levels amongst ethnic minority groups in the city. Local initiatives for the African and Caribbean communities, supported by the Regeneration Agencies, include the Bridges Programme in Glasgow South West.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the African and Caribbean communities when developing housing policy and which representatives of those communities it consults.

Alex Neil: Homes Fit for the 21st Century is the Scottish Government’s strategy and action plan for housing for the decade to 2020. The strategy, launched in February, followed a national housing discussion, with a wide range of organisations and individuals taking part. All contributions to the discussion helped to shape the content of the strategy.

  Further to the discussion responses, officials contacted key national representative equality organisations inviting comments on the potential implications for equalities in the proposed content of the strategy. Of these organisations, minority ethnic communities, including the African and Caribbean communities, are represented through Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) and the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (Scotland) (CEMVO).

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the Chinese community when developing justice policy and which representatives of that community it consults.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government remains committed to carrying out Equality Impact Assessments on its programmes, projects and policies prior to implementation. This involves the consultation of and input from a range of community groups. Recent consultations involved: Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS); Shakti Women’s Aid; the Scottish Refugee Council; Central Scotland Racial Equality Unit; and Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the Chinese community when developing skills and employment policy and which representatives of that community it consults.

Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and improving the levels of economic activity across all groups within society in Scotland. In implementing our refreshed skills strategy the Scottish Government and partners will continue to recognise people’s differing needs, situations and goals and work to remove any barriers which restrict progress. In terms of skills and training provision, Skills Development Scotland’s development of their products and services are informed by an Equality Advisory Group. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities are represented on this group by Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS).

  While employment policy remains reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government continues to work hard to build capacity in the delivery of employability services in Scotland. Under our community planning arrangements, there are now active employability partnerships in all local authority areas in Scotland. In the Glasgow area the Scottish Government has supported to Glasgow Works to develop and implement the Glasgow Works Ethnic Minority Policy Group Action Plan which aims to eliminate racial inequality in the labour market and to reduce the ethnic minority employment gap in the city. The Glasgow West Regeneration Agency launched the Chinese Employability Project in 2007, with support services including access to tailored careers information, advice and guidance, training opportunities and work placements.

Communities

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the Chinese community when developing housing policy and which representatives of that community it consults.

Alex Neil: Homes Fit for the 21st Century is the Scottish Government’s strategy and action plan for housing for the decade to 2020. The strategy, launched in February, followed a national housing discussion, with a wide range of organisations and individuals taking part. All contributions to the discussion helped to shape the content of the strategy.

  Further to the discussion responses, officials contacted key national representative equality organisations inviting comments on the potential implications for equalities in the proposed content of the strategy. Of these organisations, minority ethnic communities, including the Chinese community, are represented through Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) and the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (Scotland) (CEMVO).

Dentistry

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in the Lothians region has had access to an NHS dentist in each quarter since September 2007.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Percentage of Population Registered with a Dentist under NHS General Dental Services Arrangements in Lothian

  

Quarter Ending
Practice Postcode
Patient Postcode


Children
Adults
Children
Adults


September 2007
73.9
50.5
-
-


December 2007
77.5
52.2
-
-


March 2008
77.5
54.4
-
-


June 2008
79.1
56.6
-
-


September 2008
80.5
58.4
-
-


December 2008
81.9
60.6
-
-


March 2009
83.4
62.7
-
-


June 2009
84.4
64.5
-
-


September 2009
85.6
66.9
-
-


December 2009
86.6
67.9
-
-


March 2010
84.3
67.3
-
-


June 2010
85.0
68.7
-
-


September 2010
-
-
78.0
64.1


December 2010
-
-
78.2
65.3



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Notes:

  1. The NHS board area in which a registered patient lives may not be the same NHS board area in which their dental practice is located.

  2. ISD Scotland began publishing registration data by patient postcode and ceased publishing by practice postcode in August 2010.

  3. Mid-year population estimates are used to calculate the percentage registered and are sourced from the General Register Office.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Highland and Cairngorms local action groups were unsuccessful in their bid for funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.

Jim Mather: The reasons these bids could not be supported was that the score of the bids against the full criteria used fell below that of the others. In the case of Highland, the bid’s explanation of the impact on jobs, and the area and population covered, was weaker than the highest scoring bids. Other bids also provided technical solutions likely to deliver longer term sustainability.

  In the case of Cairngorm the bid did not explain the project delivery or the impact of the technology proposed as clearly as higher scoring bids.

  Unfortunately, though both bids were sound, they scored less highly than the successful bids.

Domestic Abuse

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) medical and (b) physiological aftercare and support services are available to male victims of domestic violence in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire does not provide gender-specific medical or physiological services for victims of domestic abuse. All patients presenting at accident and emergency and GP services receive appropriate medical attention. NHS Lanarkshire’s Ending Violence and Abuse (EVA) Services support NHS Lanarkshire departments and medical staff to respond appropriately to male and female victims of domestic abuse.

  There are a number of national help lines which provide support to men across Scotland who experience domestic abuse, including the Men’s Advice Line funded by the Scottish Government.

  The Scottish Government does not hold a comprehensive map of services provided by the non-statutory sector to men experiencing domestic abuse.

Emergency Services

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax calls were made to Lothian and Borders (a) Police and (b) Fire and Rescue Service and at what total cost, in each year since 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The latest figures available for the number of malicious false alarms to Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service are shown in table 1. The number of hoax calls made to the Lothian and Borders Police are not held centrally. However, the number of recorded crimes by Lothian and Borders Police of making a false call is available and is shown in table 2. Information relating to the cost of hoax calls to the emergency services is a matter for individual services, and is not held centrally.

  Table 1. Fire and Rescue Services

  

Year
Malicious False Alarms


2007
1,001


2008-09
849


2009-10P
469



  Source: Fire Statistics Scotland, 2008-09 Final (2009-10 Provisional)1.

  Note: 1. In contrast to previous year’s reports, this latest publication has changed from reporting on a calendar year basis to a financial year basis.

  Table 2. Police

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes 
70
-
-
-


*Hoax calls to the emergency services
-
26
52
88


*Hoax bomb calls
-
16
13
8


Total
70
42
65
96



  Source: Scottish Government police recorded crime statistics.

  Notes:

  1. The two categories of offence were not separate until 2007-08.

  2. This offence includes, but is not restricted to, hoax bomb calls. It is not possible to separate these offences from bomb hoax offences.

Employment

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer those affected by the proposed job losses at the West Freugh satellite ground station.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government provides support through the PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) Partnership to all individuals facing redundancy. The local PACE Partnership is aware of potential job losses at West Freugh and has contacted the company to offer advice and support. To date QinetiQ has declined the offer of this support as they already have arrangements in place to provide support to any staff facing redundancy. However, PACE support will remain available through partner organisations and can be accessed by employees.

  The type of support available through PACE will be tailored to meet individual needs and local circumstances but will include: Jobcentre Plus Scotland services; one-to-one counselling; comprehensive information packs; access to high-quality training; seminars on skills such as CV-writing and starting up a business.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the option of joint investment opportunities to develop the forestry commission estate has been considered.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes, and the deals announced provide for Forestry Commission Scotland to become a joint venture partner in specific schemes should they chose to do so.

Forth Crossing

Tricia Marwick (Central Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the Forth Replacement Crossing Principal Contract procurement process.

Keith Brown: The tender period for the Principal Contract has concluded successfully. Two valid and high quality bids have been received.

  We can confirm the project costs will be fully met from the Scottish Government capital budget. Formal letters indicating an intention to award have been issued today and, subject to the mandatory standstill period, the contract will be awarded to the successful contractor in mid-April.

Freight

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the invitation to submit notes of interest setting out funding requirements under the 2011-12 Freight Facilities Grant scheme, what the total capital cost of all projects advised by rail and by water is; what the total minimum value of Freight Facilities Grant support indicated as required is; what the total annual value of Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant sought is, and how many projects have submitted notes of interest, broken down by regional transport partnership area.

Keith Brown: Of those notes of interest which identified costs the capital cost of the rail projects was between £19.1 million and £22.6 million and that of the water projects was £17.2 million. The total minimum level of Freight Facilities Grant support identified was between £20.8 million and £22.5 million. The note of interest form did not request information on the amount of Waterborne Freight Grant and Mode Shift Revenue Support that would be sought.

  The breakdown of the 19 eligible notes of interest by Regional Transport Partnership area is as follows: HITRANS - 10, SEStran - four, SPT - two Tactran - two and Nestrans – one.

Further and Higher Education

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in each (a) college and (b) university in 2009-10, broken down by (i) academic, (ii) non-academic managerial and (iii) other non-academic staff.

Michael Russell: The following tables contain the full-time equivalent numbers of staff in Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) and colleges in 2009-10.

  Table 1. Staffing Full-Time Equivalents by Academic/Non-Academic (Management)/ Non-Academic (Other) and College in Scotland’s Colleges 2009-10

  

College Name
2009-10


Academic
Non-Academic (Management)
Non-Academic (Other)


Aberdeen College
248.2
24.5
210.3


Angus College
149.4
13.0
99.1


Anniesland College
171.1
6.0
106.8


Adam Smith College
355.1
17.1
260.4


Ayr College
172.4
9.7
119.2


Barony College
41.2
3.0
37.1


Borders College
91.2
4.0
94.9


Banff and Buchan College of Further Education
176.8
5.7
60.4


Carnegie College
192.8
12.0
214.1


Central College Glasgow
160.5
4.1
97.7


Cardonald College
218.4
7.0
161.0


Clydebank College
203.3
6.0
118.9


Coatbridge College
105.6
3.9
98.2


Cumbernauld College
107.7
4.0
93.9


Dundee College
332.8
11.0
260.0


Dumfries and Galloway College
116.4
7.0
105.4


Elmwood College
100.8
7.4
132.5


Forth Valley College
328.2
6.0
212.5


Glasgow Metropolitan College
295.2
15.7
230.9


Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
186.4
11.0
90.1


Inverness College
213.6
9.0
117.3


James Watt College of Further and Higher Education
395.0
8.9
227.7


Jewel and Esk College
160.6
11.3
131.0


John Wheatley College
97.3
8.0
67.5


Kilmarnock College
125.5
5.1
150.6


Lews Castle College
33.2
1.8
26.1


Langside College
204.3
6.0
86.7


Moray College
110.1
12.0
131.1


Motherwell College
332.2
6.0
127.8


Newbattle Abbey College
5.0
3.0
15.7


North Glasgow College
162.4
6.5
75.0


North Highland College
104.5
8.0
97.1


Oatridge College
31.2
3.5
51.8


Orkney College
26.4
0.8
12.5


Perth College
144.2
6.0
174.6


Reid Kerr College
232.9
6.0
167.6


Shetland College
34.3
3.0
28.7


South Lanarkshire College
151.0
7.0
73.8


Stow College
126.6
15.4
94.3


Stevenson College Edinburgh
264.5
5.0
215.1


Edinburgh’s Telford College
258.6
6.5
271.2


West Lothian College
149.3
13.0
95.1


Total
7,116.0
329.7
5,241.6



  Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

  Academic includes heads of department, lecturer/instructor/senior lecturer, research/lab assistant and other staff.

  Non-Academic Management includes principal, depute/assistant principal and other senior management.

  Non-Academic (Other) includes lecturer/instructor/senior lecturer, research/lab assistant and other staff.

  Please note lecturer/instructor/senior lecturer and research/lab assistant are only allocated to non-academic (cross-college staff) in cases where the member of staff cannot be assigned to a specific academic department/school/faculty for the majority of time.

  Table 2. Staffing Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) by Academic/Non-Academic (Management)/Non-Academic (Other) in Scottish HEIs by Institution: 2009-10

  

 Institution  
2009-10


Academic
Non-academic
Total


 
Managers
Others
 


FTE
FTE
FTE
FTE


Aberdeen, University of
1,414.0
4.1
1,637.5
3,055.6


Abertay Dundee, University of
185.5
19.5
292.7
497.7


Dundee, University of
1,383.0
30.7
1,569.8
2,983.5


Edinburgh College of Art
104.4
11.0
161.2
276.6


Edinburgh Napier University
584.4
23.5
776.4
1,384.3


Edinburgh, University of
2,898.5
211.4
4,104.9
7,214.9


Glasgow Caledonian University
773.8
96.6
630.8
1,501.1


Glasgow School of Art
112.9
9.0
195.6
317.4


Glasgow, University of
2,217.6
294.2
2,519.1
5,031.0


Heriot-Watt University
593.2
48.3
919.8
1,561.3


Highlands and Islands, University of the 
18.9
7.8
161.9
188.6


Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
188.6
19.3
221.3
429.1


Robert Gordon University
553.6
77.5
593.5
1,224.6


Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
72.9
15.0
114.8
202.7


Scottish Agricultural College
197.6
73.4
626.4
897.4


St Andrews, University of
922.7
3.3
1,082.3
2,008.3


Stirling, University of
538.8
14.8
807.8
1,361.5


Strathclyde, University of
1,307.1
15.9
1,729.7
3,052.7


West of Scotland, University of the
565.0
79.4
734.2
1,378.6


Total
14,632.4
1,054.5
18,879.8
34,566.7



  Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

Further and Higher Education

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average bursary award has been for (a) part-time and (b) full-time students at colleges and universities in Edinburgh and the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Michael Russell: Bursary payments to Scottish students are paid out by Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for full-time higher education (HE) students, and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) allocates further funds for further education (FE) students. The most recent year where data collection for bursary payments is complete is 2009-10, so this answer contains data for academic sessions 2005-06 to 2009-10.

  In these academic sessions, full-time Scottish students studying at HE level in Scotland are eligible to apply for Young Students’ Bursary (YSB). The bursary is income assessed, and is paid out to students who were under 25 before the first day of the first academic year of your course and have not been supporting themselves through earnings for at least three years. YSB is paid out instead of part of the maintenance loan, so it reduces the amount of loan that these students will be entitled to. Table 1 therefore shows the average YSB payments to full-time students for each institution in Edinburgh and Lothians, for 2005-06 to 2009-10.

  Table 1: Average Bursary Payments to Full-Time Higher Education Students Studying at Institutions in Edinburgh and Lothians, 2005-06 to 2009-10 (£)

  

Edinburgh Institutions
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Queen Margaret University
1,910
1,916
1,954
1,985
2,136


Edinburgh’s Telford College
1,863
1,970
1,935
2,014
2,079


Edinburgh College of Art
1,913
1,894
1,963
1,910
2,040


Stevenson College
1,957
1,908
1,986
2,109
2,105


Edinburgh University
1,775
1,814
1,854
1,885
1,923


Napier University
1,880
1,939
1,983
2,008
2,088


Heriot-Watt University
1,790
1,865
1,930
1,965
2,049


Lothians institutions
 
 
 
 
 


Oatridge Agricultural College
1,842
1,821
1,856
1,773
1,912


West Lothian College
1,901
2,068
2,074
1,914
2,036


Jewel and Esk Valley College
2,008
2,001
2,075
2,021
2,077



  Source: SAAS Management Information.

  The Scottish Funding Council allocate money to college institutions in respect of students who are studying at further education level. These funds can be accessed by full-time students or part-time students on the basis of study, travel, or special educational needs. However, because institutions distribute the money as they see fit, the total number of students that benefited from these allocations of money was not available so it was not possible to calculate an average payment. Therefore, table 2 shows the total amounts allocated to each college in the Edinburgh and Lothians regions.

  Table 2: Total Bursary Amounts Allocated by Scottish Funding Council to Colleges in Edinburgh and Lothians, 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Edinburgh Colleges
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Edinburgh’s Telford College
£2,441,659
£2,746,050
£2,687,411
£2,961,324
£3,552,944


Stevenson College
£1,864,943
£2,097,509
£2,164,474
£2,638,576
£2,911,232


Lothians Colleges
 
 
 
 
 


Jewel and Esk College
£1,043,917
£1,389,652
£1,165,197
£1,450,441
£1,773,488


West Lothian College
£977,562
£1,079,000
£1,139,508
£1,231,406
£1,302,431


Oatridge College
£356,698
£414,281
£413,188
£512,470
£572,242



  Source: Scottish Funding Council.

Health

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions due to assault by a sharp object there were in 2010 in NHS Lothian, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information for the calendar year 2010 is not yet centrally available. Complete data for 2010 should be available from ISD on request in June 2011. The following table shows information on the number of inpatient and day case hospital episodes in NHS Lothian in the financial year 2009-10 due to assault by sharp object, broken down by hospital.

  Number of Hospital Episodes in Lothian due to Assault by Sharp Object; by Hospital for Financial Year 2009-10.

  

NHS Lothian Hospital
2009-10


Western General Hospital
3


St John’s Hospital
45


Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
95


Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion
4



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Scottish Trauma Audit Group is spending additional money on Cisco 1900 series routers.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Trauma Audit Group has not committed to, and does not intend to commit to, any expenditure on Cisco 1900 series routers.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what outcome measures the Food Standards Agency Scotland applies to its strategic objectives of (a) achieving an improvement in the health of the Scottish population and (b) reducing inequalities.

Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that it employs a number of diet and nutrition outcome measures relating to health improvement. For example:

  In working to improve messaging about healthy eating, an FSA in Scotland project is being carried out by the University of Glasgow to develop a resource designed to help consumers (and health professionals) understand what eating a healthy diet over the period of a week entails. Continuing from this project FSA in Scotland will further explore the attitudes and understanding of both health professionals and consumers in relation to specific messages associated with healthy eating.

  To measure the diet of the Scottish population, FSA in Scotland runs a programme of diet and nutrition surveillance designed to measure progress towards the Scottish Dietary Targets. Outputs from this programme includes, where possible, breakdown by deprivation using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

  To track progress made by the food industry to lower salt, fats and sugars in products, FSA in Scotland are currently working with Scottish Government to explore the analysis of market research data relating to retail food and drink purchases.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to deliver the recommendations in Eating for Health: A Diet Action Plan for Scotland .

Shona Robison: Over the 15 years since Eating for Health: a Diet Action Plan for Scotland was published, work between government, stakeholders and the food industry has continued moving towards delivering the 71 recommendations. Full details of progress up to 2005 was published in the review of the Scottish Diet Action Plan.

  The Scottish Government remains fully committed to the themes set out in the original plan and continues to support these through policies like the Obesity Route Map, Recipe for Success: the National Food and Drink policy, Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action and through our work with the Food Standards Agency Scotland.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on achieving the dietary targets listed in Annex B of Eating for Health - meeting the challenge: Co-ordinated action, improved communication and leadership for Scottish Food and Health policy 2004.

Shona Robison: Work on monitoring progress towards the Scottish Dietary Targets is carried out by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland and is on-going.

  Food/nutrient changes to the Scottish Dietary Targets from 2001 to 2008

  

Target Food / Nutrient
Scottish Dietary Target
1996*
2001
2008
Change Between 2001 and 2008


Fruit and Vegetables
More than 400g per day
249g
239g
264g
Up


Bread (all types)
154g per day
133g
101g
85.9g
Down


Brown/Wholemeal Bread
More than 77g per day
26.5g
16.2 g
21.2g
Up


Breakfast Cereals (all types)
34g per day
18.2g
19.5g
21.5g
No Change


Oil Rich Fish
88g per week
35.1g
28.2g
31.8g
No Change


White Fish
No decrease
107g
92.9g
89.1g
No Change


Fat
≤35% food energy
39.6%
39.2%
39.3%
No Change


Saturated Fat
≤11% of food energy
15.6%
15.7%
15.5%
No Change


NMES 
Adults - No increase
13.6%
15.6%
15.1%
Down


Total Complex Carbohydrates
155g per day
143g
138g
137g
No Change



  *Figures for 1996 were taken from Wrieden et al., 2006 and were calculated using a different methodology, which included different waste figures.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what grant schemes are in place for the agriculture and fisheries sectors to promote its dietary targets for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation and European Fisheries Fund grant schemes are available to assist the agriculture and fishery sectors meet and contribute to overall Government policies, including those relating to health and nutrition, as set out in "Recipe For Success", Scotland’s first Food and Drink Policy.

  A number of other initiatives are being assisted that have health/diet elements. Examples include support to Seafood Scotland to promote the health benefits of eating seafood; grant assistance to the Royal Highland Education Trust for their "Farm to Plate" scheme and other projects; funding for the "Childrens’ Orchard" to plant apple trees in schools; and assistance to Eco-Schools to develop a food and environment theme for use in schools.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what change there has been in the shortfall between target consumption and production of (a) fresh fruit, (b) non-citrus fresh fruit and (c) vegetables since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Shona Robison: According to the Scottish Dietary Goals the target consumption is for an average intake to more than 400grams of fruit and vegetables per person per day. The 2009 Scottish Health Survey indicates a slight upward trend in personal fruit and vegetables consumption. It is not possible to compare the difference between national consumption and production with personal fruit and vegetables consumption.

  The amount of fruit and vegetables produced in Scotland is shown in the following table.

  Annual Production of Fruit and Vegetables (1993-2001)

  

Tonnes
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001


Vegetable
 
171,122
176,780
207,088
198,088
196,766
199,653
235,928
256,436


Potatoes
 
 
 
 
587,893
496,617
407,697
442,897
429,229


Fruit
10,625
11,097
12,044
12,331
13,556
11,884
10,209
14,327
13,824



  Annual Production of Fruit and Vegetables (2002- 2010)

  

Tonnes
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
20091
2010


Vegetable
227,181
245,419
256,047
248,824
292,042
284,239
285,753
365,149
358,761


Potatoes
580,472
637,088
533,362
621,676
591,117
766,073
748,490
677,629
764,810


Fruit
11,733
15,798
16,135
22,312
20,374
24,224
26,315
26,982
26,204



  Note: 1. From 2009 onwards data on land use (on which these data depend) has been obtained from the Single Application Form (SAF) for holdings claiming Single Farm Payments. Caution should be used when comparing this data with earlier years.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage increase there has been in the production of lean (a) beef, (b) lamb and (c) pork since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Richard Lochhead: This information is not readily available.

  However, improvement in the selection of stock by producers, has led to some improvement in the proportion of "lean" animals going forward for slaughter.

  In addition, work is underway through Quality Meat Scotland to help producers further improve the quality of stock.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in the salt content of bread since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2001 estimated that the average salt content of bread fell from 1.4g/100g in 1998 to 1.2g/100g in 2001, an average fall of 13%.

  Working with the food industry, in 2006 the FSA published the first set of voluntary targets for 85 categories of food including bread. The target for bread, set for achievement in 2010 was 1.1g/100g. A review of the salt targets carried out in 2008 to assess progress, indicated that most of the major supermarkets had already achieved the 2010 salt targets. Therefore, new more challenging targets were set for industry to work towards and achieve by 2012. The 2012 target for bread is 1.0g/100g.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further reduction in salt the Food Standards Agency Scotland is seeking in (a) bread, (b) biscuits, (c) snacks and (d) processed foods and by what date these targets are to be achieved.

Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that it is seeking progress towards the 2012 Food Standards Agency salt targets. Full details, including targets on bread, biscuits, snacks and processed foods can be found at:

  http://www.food.gov.uk/scotland/scotnut/salt/saltreduction.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant has been made available to registered social landlords in each year since 2007.

Alex Neil: The following table shows how much Housing Association Grant (HAG) has been made available to registered social landlords (RSLs) in each year since 2007:

  

2007-08   £ million
2008-09  £ million
2009-10  £ million
Planned 2010-11  £ million


444.213
380.035
476.489
303.164

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to monitor the performance of local authorities in relation to empty homes.

Alex Neil: Bringing empty properties back into use is a matter for individual authorities. Where there are significant issues locally we would expect authorities to address these in their local housing strategies. However, a variety of information is collected and published on empty homes in Scotland.

  Information on empty homes in Scotland is primarily collected through data from the council tax system. This information is provided by local authorities and includes data on how many properties are unoccupied, how many properties are long term empty, how much of a discount is offered for long empty properties and how much money is raised by reducing the 50% discount for long term empty properties. This includes data for both private and social sectors. Information is also collected on second homes through these data collections on council tax. Information on long-term empty housing is not routinely published but is available on request from the Statistical Support for Local Government team (lgfstats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk). More general council tax information can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/DatasetsCouncilTax.

  More information is also collected on vacancies specifically within local authority managed social properties. This information is also provided directly from local authorities and includes information on the number of vacancies, how long the properties have been vacant and the reasons why the properties are vacant. This information is published through the Housing Statistics for Scotland publication and can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk./Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/StockManagement.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes have been committed in the Lothians region by people released from prison under automatic early release in each year since 2006-07, broken down by type of crime

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Medication

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are participating in clinical trials, broken down by NHS board.

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of eligible patients is participating in clinical trials, broken down by NHS board.

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been enrolled in clinical trials in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

Medication

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring progress towards the implementation of the CEL 17 (2010) guidance on the introduction of new medicines into NHSScotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards were asked to align their local policies to the framework set out in CEL 17 (2010) by 1 April 2011.

  Progress in this area was reported to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee via the response to the committee dated 13 February 2011 and can be viewed via the attached link:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-07/subIndexForPE1108.htm.

Medication

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward the CEL 17 (2010) guidance on the introduction of new medicines into NHSScotland, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards were asked to align their local policies to the framework set out in CEL 17 (2010) by 1 April 2011. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of allowing NHS boards time to fully develop their policies and put them in place before asking them to demonstrate their effectiveness.

  Progress in this area was reported to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee via the response to the committee dated 13 February 2011 and can be viewed via the attached link:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-07/subIndexForPE1108.htm.

Medication

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the progress reports of NHS boards that were requested by ministers as part of the process of implementing the CEL 17 (2010) guidance on the introduction of new medicines into NHSScotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards were asked to align their local policies to the framework set out in CEL 17 (2010) by 1 April 2011.

  Progress in this area was reported to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee via the response to the committee dated 13 February 2011 and can be viewed via the attached link:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-07/subIndexForPE1108.htm.

NHS Staff

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a deadline has been set for resolving Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are a very small number of Agenda for Change reviews nationally which have not yet arrived at a final outcome. The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for finalising these as it in important that the staff/management partnership processes put in place to resolve local disputes are allowed to run their course. However, we continue to monitor progress closely and work with boards to ensure that any outstanding issues are resolved as quickly as possible.

NHS Staff

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor progress toward resolving Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. The Scottish Government monitors progress with all outstanding reviews closely and works with boards to ensure that any issues which are preventing the identification of final robust outcomes are resolved as quickly as possible.

NHS Staff

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists will be resolved.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are a very small number of Agenda for Change reviews nationally which have not yet arrived at an outcome. The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for finalising these as it is important that the staff/management partnership processes put in place to resolve local disputes are allowed to run their course. However, we continue to monitor progress closely and work with boards to ensure that any outstanding issues are resolved as quickly as possible.

Police

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Police on the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff by Strathclyde Police may reduce their annual income by 25%.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the impact of the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff at Strathclyde Police.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the concerns of civilian staff at Strathclyde Police regarding the proposed reduction in their shift allowances.

Kenny MacAskill: The negotiation of pay and conditions for police staff is a matter for the Police Staff Council and it would not be appropriate for Scottish ministers to intervene.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost of the proposed new Strathclyde Police headquarters is.

Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for the police board. According to the Stage 1 Business Case published by Strathclyde Police Authority, the total projected capital cost of the project is £37.97 million.

Police

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports proposals by the police boards to reduce the shift allowances of police support staff by up to £6,000 per annum.

Kenny MacAskill: The negotiation of pay and conditions for police staff is a matter for the Police Staff Council and it would not be appropriate for Scottish ministers to intervene.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage pay rises have been awarded to each grade of senior police officer in Strathclyde Police in each of the last three years and whether further pay rises are proposed.

Kenny MacAskill: The percentage pay rises for all senior police officers in Scotland, for the last three years are as follows:

  2.65% effective from 1 September 2008

  2.6% effective from 1 September 2009

  2.55% effective from 1 September 2010.

  The negotiation of police officer pay is initially carried out through the UK Police Negotiating Board (PNB). PNB has yet to start negotiations on police officer pay for 1 September 2011 onwards.

Police

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the total pay bill for senior police officers in Strathclyde Police has gone up in each of the last three years.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the use by local authorities and police forces of acceptable behaviour contracts in respect of children and young people, particularly in relation to the frequency and circumstances of their use.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Poverty

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the needs of the Chinese community when developing anti-poverty policy and which representatives of that community it consults.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is fully aware of the need to consider issues concerning equalities groups, and to consult with equalities groups and have consulted with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups when developing anti-poverty strategies.

  Tackling Child Poverty in Scotland: A Discussion Paper was open to public consultation and issued directly to the San Jai Chinese Project and the Chinese Youth Project in Dumfries and Galloway.

  In addition to this, some more targeted consultation activities took place including working with bodies such as the Poverty Alliance and Young Scot, to elicit the views and experience of, and engage with families with direct experience of living in poverty, through focus groups and structured discussions with equality groups. The consultation processes also included meetings and events engaging key professionals from different sectors, including organisations representing BME groups.

  Taking Forward the Government Economic Strategy: A Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland, (the consultation that formed Achieving Our Potential) was also issued to a wide range of BME groups, including BEMIS (Black and Minority Infrastructure in Scotland).

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to ensure that all prisoners undergo structured work, education and training or treatment throughout the normal working day.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is currently a requirement for all convicted prisoners to work during the core day Monday to Friday. This also includes a range of purposeful activity opportunities for self development, including education and training. While most of these opportunities are accessed in the establishments some are available as part of a work or education placement within the community. Prisoners also currently participate in offending behaviour programmes, health centre or community agency appointments during the normal working day.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it expects communities will receive from the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland has secured leading edge community benefits of up to £5,000 per mw per annum for both wind and hydro developments. Communities, if they so wish, will be able to invest this payment in a share of the development. Also, they have the choice to add extra cash of their own to build a greater stake for the community.

  We estimate that this new programme could generate up to 500mw per annum and if this is realised then it could mean a windfall of £2.5 million per annum for communities.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the community benefits from Forestry Commission Scotland’s renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011 will be administered and which organisations will oversee this.

Roseanna Cunningham: It will be for the appointed development companies for the different lots to engage with and agree the details with communities based upon the template agreed with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). FCS will additionally publish guidance for communities on the options available and Community Energy Scotland has been contracted by the Scottish Government to provide advice to communities on these possibilities.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how communities will be consulted on spending priorities arising from benefits received from Forestry Commission Scotland’s renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: Representative communities who engage with the developers will receive the level of benefit and direct investment agreed on their behalf by Forestry Commission Scotland with the developer for each lot. As such it will be entirely up to the properly constituted body to decide how to make use of such income going forward.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities it expects will benefit from Forestry Commission Scotland’s renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: It will only be possible to say which communities will benefit once the developers have identified potential sites on the national forest estate. It is expected that this process will take up to eight month to complete.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011 require safeguarding locally based employment for construction and maintenance work as part of the tendering process.

Roseanna Cunningham: Due to the nature of the commercial process undergone, Forestry Commission Scotland could not specify requirements in this way however, each developer has stressed as part of their submission the importance they attach to local development and sustainability.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason local communities did not participate in the decision made regarding the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has responsibility for the development of the national forest estate and it would not have been appropriate to directly involve communities in the commercial process. However, FCS did discuss with representative community bodies such as Community Energy Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Scottish Community Woodlands and others during the process and endeavoured to obtain a good outcome for communities.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it expects to raise from the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: Depending on energy prices Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) anticipate total renewable energy derived income of about £30 million per year by 2020, this is based on FCS’s forecast that an additional 500MW of installed capacity should be achievable. This extra income will be reinvested and will therefore be a huge saving to the taxpayer.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the report commissioned from Atkins Consultants Ltd on the potential for wind farm development on the national estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: The project Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) undertook with Atkins Consultants had the main objective to build a GIS based analytical model to enable FCS to assess potential wind resource on the national forest estate. This objective was achieved and FCS routinely uses this to assess the potential of various forest blocks for different reasons. Atkins also ran the model as a part of the exercise and produced a report covering the NFE as part of the deliverables of the project. This, along with the analytical model was handed over to FCS in September 2008. Any report like this has its limitations and the main project output was the working model however, the report did provide the necessary confidence that there remained a reasonably significant wind energy resource on the NFE and that therefore it would be worth pursuing its development strategically. FCS has had no requests to release the report but would be happy to publish it on their website if required.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which banks provided assistance in drawing up the contracts for the Forestry Commission Scotland’s renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: No banks were involved in drawing up the contracts but financial advice was provided by Grant Thornton’s Edinburgh office. However, prior to the tendering exercise FCS received advice on renewable energy developments from Fortis Bank.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the renewables potential of the forestry estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland estimate having 2GW of capacity installed (wind and hydro, excluding large-scale pumped storage) on the national forest estate by 2020.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what options were explored by Forestry Commission Scotland prior to concluding that private companies be awarded the renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: A series of options were modelled ranging from the current leasing arrangement through joint ventures to Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) self development. Given FCS cannot borrow funding for such purposes the lease/joint version option was seen to be the best route to follow.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the duration will be of the contracts for the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: It will only be possible to say which communities will benefit once the developers have identified potential sites on the national forest estate. It is expected that this process will take up to eight month to complete.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contracts for Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011 have review points where increasing payments from companies with access to the commission’s estate might be considered.

Roseanna Cunningham: The lease arrangements are structured to provide income to Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) based on a share of the gross income generated by specific projects or a share of net income where FCS is joint venture partner or a combination of both. Therefore if income rises due to increasing energy costs FCS will benefit.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will delay the eight month limit from the agreement of exclusivity arrangements for communities to put forward their own proposals for renewables contracts the Forestry Commission Scotland estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: Communities are welcome to flag up their interest during the eight month period if they want to pursue a renewables project under the National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) prior to the list of sites being finalised by the developer. Once that list is established communities will have another opportunity to take forward sites via the NFLS scheme for non allocated sites. They will be able to engage with the developers to avail of the negotiated Forestry Commission Scotland deal for a longer period after the exclusivity period prior to a planning application being made.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it proposed the deadline of eight months from the agreement of exclusivity arrangements for communities to propose their own renewables projects on the Forestry Commission Scotland estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: This was considered to be a reasonable time for the development partner companies to assess the potential and draw up a portfolio of suitable sites.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011 give exclusive rights to the whole of the commission’s estate to those companies that won the contracts.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland split the geographical areas of the national forest estate into five lots.

  In four of the five lots there are two companies given exclusivity for the eight month period, one dealing with schemes under 5MW site potential and the other over 5MW. In the fifth lot both development segments are dealt with by the same company. It is not intended that exclusive options will be granted on all of the forest estate in each lot at the end of the exclusivity period, instead a select list of potential sites will be taken forward and the rest of the land can be open to communities or others to take forward if possible.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided to put the whole of the forest estate out to tender at the same time.

Roseanna Cunningham: Every exercise like this is heavy on resource and time. Progressing these opportunities will contribute significantly to the delivery of the Government’s renewable energy targets and generate an additional revenue stream for Forestry Commission Scotland which will avoid the need for taxpayers to support the cost of delivery of social and environmental outputs from the national forest estate.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of community renewables development scheme that have previously been worked up to the appropriate level for consideration under the provisions of the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts out to tender.

Roseanna Cunningham: Where Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) was aware of community schemes that had started doing some preparatory work before the renewables contracts were announcement on 22 February, FCS built that knowledge into the arrangements by withholding the relevant forest blocks from the process. This has happened in the case of Dalavich, Strathyre and Mull.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community projects were developed as part of the hydro-tendering process by the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 22 February 2011.

Roseanna Cunningham: The results of the hydro-tendering process were announced in August and October 2010. The appointed development companies are still in the exclusivity phase and nothing has been decided as yet. Discussions are underway with some communities however.

Renewable Energy

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement by Scottish and Southern Energy that it is to halt work on the development of its proposed offshore wind farm at Kintyre, whether it will confirm that no future developer will be able to progress this site.

Jim Mather: The Kintyre site was one of the short-term options that was included within the Draft Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish Territorial Waters. The Scottish Government has just published the plan which includes its view on the proposed offshore wind farm at Kintyre.